MUMBAI: Saregama India’s John Abraham starrer, Jhootha Hi Sahi, looks like the winner this week at the box office, taking the lead over other releases like Raktha Charitra, Hisss and Dus Tola.

Even though Jhoota Hi Sahi might not have had a very impressive opening as expected, the film has been appreciated by the audience. The film opened to approximately 50 – 60 per cent occupancy.

On the other hand Ram Gopal Varma’s Raktha Charitra starring Vivek Oberoi has done well only down South. The film has not been upto the mark in the other centers and opened to about 15 per cent occupancy. While Mallika Sherawat’s much hyped Hisss and the Manoj Bajpai starrer Dus Tola had hardly any takers!

Raktha Charitra is an adult film and also very violent, so one would not expect families to go and watch the film. Moreover, Jhootha Hi Sahi is expected to pick up over the weekend.

Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Big Cinemas COO (West and South) Ashish Saxena added, “Jhootha Hi Sahi has opened better in the cities to about 50 – 60 per cent occupancy. And Raktha Charitra has had a super opening in Andhra since the film is based there.”

Fun Cinemas senior vice president Deepak Saluja said, “Jhootha Hi Sahi has definitely been better off than all the other releases of the week and people have liked the film. Rakth Charitra, being an adult film has limited audience, but has done well in certain sectors like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. While Hisss and Dus Tola have performed very badly.”

Saregama managing director Apurv Nagpal said, “This film will surprise all the critics or the box office analysts who have already written us off. The very fact that people are laughing at the correct places in the film and are relating to the film and leaving the theater with a smile on their faces, speaks volumes about the film.”

The multiplexes are hopeful that the film will pick up over the weekend by word of mouth publicity. Moreover, with no major releases till Diwali, looks like it might just be Jhootha Hi Sahi all the way!